This paper provides a list of key events, policy and legislative changes that have occurred in Australia between 1985 and September 2012. Events are listed by jurisdiction, at the national and state/territory level.

All events added in the last six months are highlighted in blue.

The timeline concerns itself with illicit drugs. Illicit drugs refer to cannabis, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, hallucinogens and other ‘designer’ drugs. Excluded from the term ‘illicit drugs’ are tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceuticals (e.g. benzodiazepines), performance enhancing drugs (e.g. anabolic steroids) and other common substances which may be inhaled for psychoactive effects (e.g. petrol), even when these substances are used illegally.